The esteemed Italian cellist, conductor, and pedagogue, Antonio Janigro, enrolled at the Milan Conservatory at 11, where he studied cello with Gilberto Crepax. He also received advice from Pablo Casals and was a student of Alexanian at the École Normale de Musique in Paris.

In 1934 Antonio Janigro made his formal recital debut in Pavia, and then pursued an active career as a cello virtuoso. From 1939 to 1953 he launched a second career as a conductor in Zagreb, where he later conducted the Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra from 1954 to 1964. In 1954 he founded the chamber ensemble I Solisti di Zagreb, which he conducted on extensive tours until 1967. He was also conductor of the Angelicum Orchestra in Milan from 1965 to 1967. From 1968 to 1971 he was conductor of the Saarland Radio Chamber Orchestra in Saarbrücken. As a guest conductor, Janigro appeared widely in Europe and North America. He also continued throughout the years to tour as a cellist.

From 1965 to 1974 Antonio Janigro e was Professor of the master class in cello at the Düsseldorf Conservatory. His repertoire as both cellist and conductor was remarkably comprehensive, ranging from early music to contemporary scores.